Before Zika arriving on our doorsteps, it was occasionally an issue in Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands, few people thought twice about the mosquito borne virus. Fortunately, there were some researchers looking at the virus spread by the Aedes mosquito and at least two studies suggest probable sexual transmission of Zika.

Both studies published in the journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases, one in 2011 and one earlier this year have now caught my attention.

Clinical and serologic evidence indicate that 2 American scientists contracted Zika virus infections while working in Senegal in 2008. One of the scientists transmitted this arbovirus to his wife after his return home. Direct contact is implicated as the transmission route, most likely as a sexually transmitted infection.

In December 2013, during a Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in French Polynesia, a patient in Tahiti sought treatment for hematospermia, and ZIKV was isolated from his semen. ZIKV transmission by sexual intercourse has been previously suspected. This observation supports the possibility that ZIKV could be transmitted sexually.

Just another factor to consider as this virus sweeps through the Western hemisphere.